Water Industry (Third Party Access) Amendment Bill

The Hon. T.A. FRANKS: I rise on behalf of the Greens to speak to the amendments I filed previously and indicate to members in this place that I will not be moving those amendments, following negotiations with stakeholders and the minister’s office.

The amendments address the concerns raised by stakeholders and, in particular, SACOSS. With regard to amendment No. 1, it addresses the concern that the third-party access regime would allow for cherrypicking of SA Water’s existing customers. Our amendment No. 2 sought to ensure that the arbitration should be conducted through a public participation process to enable consumers to fully scrutinise the implications of any disputed third-party access arrangement. Amendment No. 3 protected commercial confidentiality, and our fourth amendment sought to ensure that the arbitrator gave public notice of the outcome of an arbitration.

As indicated, we have had a number of productive meetings with stakeholders and the minister’s office with regard to these amendments. We have also been informed that the Greens’ amendments would be contrary to the national competition principles and therefore likely to affect the certification of the access regime as effected under the Competition and Consumer Act 2010.

I would particularly like to thank SACOSS for their contribution to this bill, in particular policy adviser, Joe De Silva, and thank the minister’s advisers, Rosanna McClelland, Tara Bates and Tom Mooney, for providing information and clarification upon request.

The Hon. T.A. FRANKS: The Greens will be supporting the government amendment and welcome it.